Car coupler



A. J. BAZELEY Jan. 30, 1934.

CAR COUPLER Filed Jan. 22. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 avweuto'g zriluzr lfiazelq 44,10 61120014943 nn l I I l l ll A. J. BAZELEY CAR COUPLER Jan. 30. 1934.

Filed Jan. 22. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 avweutoz .1 Bazeiey .zirlizar 829 Mia Gbtoma (lan AM Patented Jan. 30, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAR COUPLER Application January 22, 1929. Serial No. 334,177

9 Claims.

This invention relates to car couplers and particularly to car couplers of the type shown in my Patent No. 1,647,496, dated November 1, 1927. In said patent there is disclosed a coupler comprising a coupler-head, a coupling knuckle, a lock for said knuckle, and a lifter for said look. When the lock is in its lower or knuckle-locking position, a foot on said lock underlies a ledge on the coupler head and is adapted to engage the under surface of said ledge to prevent creeping of the lock. Upon raising the lock slightly through the lifter, said foot is swung by gravity to clear said ledge, thus permitting the lock to be raised completely into position for unlocking the knuckle. Among the forms of lifters disclosed in the patent referred to, there is shown in Fig. 8 of said patent a lifter which is operated from the bottom instead of from the top. It has been found in practice that when said bottom-operated lifter is used with a certain type of operating rod, having a tendency to force the lifter rearwardly as well as upwardly, the foot of the lock is pressed against the coupler head so that gravity is unable to remove said foot from underneath the aforesaid ledge, and jamming of the lock results. One of the objects of my invention is the provision of means for preventing such jamming. To this end I provide means whereby dependence upon the action of gravity in releasing the lock is avoided. My invention comprises the provision of positive means, simple in construction and highly eifective in operation, for causing withdrawal of the foot of the look from beneath the ledge of the coupler head during the operation of the lifter. More specifically, I have provided in this connection interengaging surfaces on the lock and the lifter, respectively, so related as to come into play during the initial upward movement of the lifter and to effect positively the release of the lock; thereby insuring the freeing of the lock for movement to knuckle-unlocking position. Another feature of my invention resides in the provision of means for guiding a lock into locking position, and also into the position known as lock-set. Other features of the invention will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of coupler mechanism embodying my invention, this view being similar to Fig. 2 of my aforesaid patent in that the lock is shown in locked position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 out with the lock in lock-set position (as in Fig. 3 of the patent) and with the lifter in a raised position.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line III-III of Fig. 2, but with the knuckle shown in plan and in closed position.

Fig. 4 is a central vertical section similar to Figs. 1 and 2 but looking from the opposite side and showing the knuckle in elevation and in the knuckle-thrown position, the lock being shown tripped by said knuckle from lock-set position.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the lock.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view looking from the same side as Fig. 4, but showing the knuckle in closed and locked position. This view illustrates an initial stage in the lifting of the lock.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig.5 showing a further stage in the look lifting action.

Fig. 8 is a detail view in front elevation of a portion of the coupler head, with parts removed.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the coupler-head, B the knuckle, C the lock, and D the lifter. These parts correspond to the similarly designated parts in 'my patent previously referred to, the lifter D disclosed herein being of the bottom operated type shown in Fig. 8 of said patent. The knuckle B is pivoted to the coupler-head by pivot pin 2' in the usual manner; The lock C cooperates with the knuckle B in the same manner as in my aforesaid patent, said look in one position serving to lock the knuckle closed, and in another position permitting said knuckle to be swung to the knuckle-thrown position through the medium of suitable spring means. Thus, in Fig. 1 the lock is shown in its locked position, wherein the knuckle is locked closed. Said lock comprises a locking head 2 with a depending leg 3 and a forwardly projecting foot 4. When the lock is in its locked position asshown in Fig. 1 said foot 4' lies under a ledge 5 on the coupler head A, in which position the engagement of said foot against the under surface 6 of'said ledge will prevent the look from creeping. In Figs. 2 and 3 the lock has been shifted to its lockset position wherein a shoulder 7 at the heel of foot i'engages the seat or ledge 8 on the coupler head at the rear of the lock hole 9. In said lockset position, an opening 10 in the lock is presented opposite the tail of the knuckle, thus unlocking the latter. However, even though the lockbe moved to the lock-set position aforesaid, the knuckle will remain in the closed position (as in'Fig. 3) as long as the coupler is interlocked with the opposing coupler on an adjacent car. Upon separation of the adjacent cars the knuckle is automatically moved by its spring (not shown) to the knuckle-thrown position shown in Fig. 4';- during which movementof the knuckle its tail 11 trips the lock C from lock-set position in the same manner as has been explained in my aforesaid patent. It will be seen that in order to move the look from its locked position shown in Fig. 1 to its knuckle-releasing position, the foot 4 of the lock must be withdrawn from beneath the ledge 5 of the coupler-head.

The lifter D extends into an opening 12 in the lock C and engages a pin 13 in said lock. Said lifter is operable for actuating the look through operating mechanism (not shown) connected to the lifter through an aperture 14.

As thus far described the parts and their mode of operation are the same as in my patent before mentioned. The operation of the improved coupler mechanism herein disclosed is the same as that of the coupler mechanism shown in said patent, except for the features which will be hereinafter specifically pointed out.

In my patent hereinbefore referred to, the withdrawal of the foot 4 from beneath ledge 5 through the initial upward movement of the lifter is effected by the force of gravity, as I have above pointed out. By my improved mechanism as disclosed herein, the withdrawal of said foot to release the lock is not dependent upon gravity, but is instead effected positively. In carrying out my invention I have shown the lock C provided with a lug 15 having a lower rounded surface 16; while the lifter D is shown provided with a recess 17 having a lower inclined ledge 18 which acts as a cam surface to cooperate with the surface 16 of the lug 15. Also, I provide an elongated recess 19 in the lifter to allow a limited relative vertical movement between the lock and the lifter. The slope of the cam surface 18 and the length of the recess 19 in the lifter are so proportioned that by the time the clearance between the lower end of the recess 19 and the connecting pin 13 of thelock has been taken up, the projection or foot 4 of the lock will have been withdrawn from beneath the ledge 5 and the lock thus freed for movement to knuckle-unlocking posit-ion.

In Figs. 6 and '7 I have illustrated the action of my improved mechanism under the influence of a force having both upward and rearward com--' ponents; i. e., a force of the type which, as previously mentioned herein, is likely to cause jamming of the look when applied to the mechanism shown in Fig. 8 of my aforesaid patent. The direction of the force is indicated in Fig. 6 by the arrow E. It will be seen that the horizontal component of said force has shifted the lifter D rearwardly so that it fulcrums upon the coupler-head at point F and exerts a forward force upon the look at point G. In the structure shown in Fig. 8 of my patent the application of such forward force to the lock would press both the head and the foot of the lock against the coupler-head; while at the same time the upward vertical component of the force applied to the lifter would engage the foot of the lock with the under surface of the adjacent edge on the coupler-head, so that jamming of the parts would ensue. In my improved mechanism, however, such jamming does not OCCUI'.

While the lock is pressed against the couplerhead at H in Fig. 6 the inclined cam surface 18 of the lifter, through its engagement with projection 15 on the lock, has forced the leg 3 of the look rearwardly into the position shown in that figure. The projection or foot 4 has now been entirely released from underneath the ledge 5 of the coupler-head, and there still remains a small amount of clearance at 21 between the recess 19 of the lifter and the connecting pin 13 of the look. In swinging rearwardly from the position of Fig. 1 to that of Fig. 6 the lock has fulcrumed about the point H and has been dragged a short distance up the inclined ledge 22 of the coupler-head (which ledge is numbered 36 in my patent aforesaid). Said ledge 22 may be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, but does not appear in Fig. 6 for the reason that it is on the other side of the coupler-head. As in my aforesaid patent, an inclined projection 23 depends from one side of the lock head 2 for cooperation with the ledge 22.

In Fig. '7 wherein the lock and lifter have been raised beyond their Fig. 6 position, the lifter D is shown bearing against the connecting pin 13 of the look at the lower end of the recess 19 and bearing against the projection 15 of the look at 24. A final movement of the lifter raises the look so that its lock-set shoulder 7 comes above the lock-set shoulder 8 of the coupler-head; and the weight of the head of the lock forwardly of the connecting pin 19 will further tilt the lock so that the shoulder 7 will come over the ledge 8, placing the lock in lock-set position as shown in Fig. 2. When the lifter is then released, it drops from the full-line to the dotted line position in Fig. 2.

In addition to the cam action between the projection 15 and surface 18 of the lock and lifter, respectively, the surface 25 at the rear of recess 19 in the lifter is formed at such an angle as to cooperate with the connecting pin 13 of the lock to swing the leg 3 of the lock rearwardly and withdraw the foot 4 from beneath the ledge 5. In this way the projection 15 and cam surface 18 may, if desired, be eliminated and the release of the look from the ledge 5 made dependent on the inclined surface 25 of the recess 19 in the lifter. I prefer, however, to use the projection 15 on the lock and the inclined surface 18 on the lifter to supplement or supersede the action of said inclined surface 25; since this gives a much greater leverage for freeing the look from the ledge 5, besides providing a more positive action and being less liable to become ineffective due to wear.

It will thus be seen that I have provided simple and effective means responsive to the initial upward movement of the lifter for withdrawing the foot of the look from beneath the ledge 5 of the coupler-head and thus freeing the lock for further movement into knuckle-unlocking position.

I have further provided effective means applicable either to top or bottom operated forms of locks for guiding the look into locking position. Considering the coupler to be in knuckle-thrown position; when a coupling is made and the knuckle swings closed, the lock C, and with it the lifter D, drops by gravity. At the rear of the inclined projection 23 of the look I provide a rounded portion 26. Also I extend the inclined surface 22 of the coupler-head rearwardly and upwardly as shown at 27. When the lock drops by gravity as aforesaid the rounded portion 26 strikes said inclined ledge 27 and causes the lock to slide forwardly, the projection 23 of the look also coming into cooperation with surface 22 during said forward movement, the foot 4 of the lock being thus caused to swing under the ledge 5, as shown in Fig. 1. As will clearly appear at 28 in Fig. 3, the extension 27 of the ledge or surface 22 is extended for strengthening purposes around the edge of the look opening 9 in the lower side of the coupler-mead. To prevent interference by portion 28 of the coupler-head with the lock-setting action, the lug 15 of the lock may be bevelled off on its rear side as shown at 29 in Fig. 3. Thus, the bevel 29 may cooperate with the portion 28 of the coupler to force the lower portion of the lock laterally toward the side of the coupler that contains the pivot pin 2' sufliciently to allow the lock to assume the lockset position. As additional security for the proper guidance of the lock into lock-set position, said portion 28 may be inclined laterally down toward said pivot pin side of the coupler (as shown at 30, Fig. 8) so that, when the lock-set shoulder 7 is raised slightly above the ledge 8 and swung rearwardly thereover, it will ride down the incline 30 whereby the lower end of the lock is guided into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any mechanical equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize that various structural modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a car coupler, a head including a ledge, a knuckle, a lock therefor, said lock having a foot engageable with said ledge on the couplerhead, an inclined surface on said coupler-head cooperating with a portion of said lock for causing shifting of said foot into overlapping relation to said ledge, and an extension of said surface having a greater inclination and cooperating with another portion of said lock for shifting the latter forwardly during the descent thereof.

2. In a car coupler, a knuckle, a lock therefor, movable in an opening in the coupler-head, an inclined guiding surface on said head adjacent one side of said opening, and having an extension on another side thereof, means on said lock cooperating with said surface for causing shifting of said lock in a given direction, and means on said lock cooperating with said extension for shifting said lock in another direction.

3. In a car coupler, a knuckle, a lock therefor movable in an opening in the coupler-head, an inclined guiding surface on said head adjacent one side of said opening and having an extension on another side thereof, means whereby said surface causes shifting of the lock into interlock ing relation with the coupler-head, and means whereby said extension guides said lock into lockset position.

4. In a car coupler, a knuckle, a lock therefor r movable in an opening in the coupler-head, said lock having a foot engageable with a ledge on said head, an inclined guiding surface on said head adjacent one side of said opening and having an extension on another side thereof, a shoulder on said lock engageable with said head for holding the lock in lock-set position, means whereby during the descent of said lock said inclined surface shifts said foot into engageable relation with said ledge, and means whereby said extension guides said lock into a position wherein said shoulder may cooperate with said coupler to retain the lock in lock-set position.

5. In a car coupler, a knuckle, a lock therefor, an inclined surface on the coupler-head for causing shifting of the look into interlocking relation with said head, said surface having a strengthening extension, and means whereby said extension cooperates in guiding the look into lock-set position.

6. In a car coupler, a knuckle, a lock therefor, a portion of said lock underlying said coupler head and forming an anti-creep for the look, a member adapted to engage the lock for lifting the same, a recess in one of said parts, the lower wall of the recess sloping downwardly and rearwardly, a projection on another of said parts entering said recess, the projection and said wall of the recess cooperating to move the portion of the look from under the coupler head before the member, upon movement in a direction to unlock the lock, engages the lock to raise the latter to unlocked position.

'7. In a car coupler, a head including a ledge, knuckle, a lock therefor, said lock having an inclined surface and a foot engageable with said ledge on the coupler head, and inclined surfaces on said coupler head, one of said surfaces cooperating with a portion on the rear of the lock and another of said surfaces engaging said inclined surface of the lock, said surfaces and said respective portions of the lock engaged thereby causing the lock to move forwardly during the descent thereof and said foot thereby shifted into engageable relation with said ledge.

8. In a car coupler, a head including a ledge, a knuckle, a lock therefor, said lock having a foot engageable with said ledge on the coupler head, and surfaces of different inclination on said head cooperating with different projections on said lock during the descent thereof, one of said surfaces and one of said projections causing the lock to be positively shifted forwardly during the descent of the lock, and another of said surfaces and another of said projections causing said foot to be shifted into engageable relation with said ledge during said forward movement of the lock.

9. In a car coupler, a knuckle, a locking elemerit therefor, a lifter element for said locking element, said locking element having a portion normally lying beneath a portion of the coupler, and said lifter having an elongated recess cooperating with a projection on the locking element for lifting the lock, and camming means operably interposed between said elements for effecting swinging of said locking element from under the overlying portion of the coupler prior to engagement of said projection with the walls of said recess.

ARTHUR JAMES BAZELEY. 

